WORLD'S AIR FORCES
tial Iraqi interest in Mirage 2000s and Alpha
Jets. Deliveries of EMB-312 Tucanoes from
the Egyptian assembly line continue, with the
84th and last due to arrive before the end of
1987. Options are held on another 20 aircraft,
but are not thought to have been exercised yet.
Recent equipment purchases have included at
least five Bell 214STs and four Xian B-6D
(Tu-16) bombers from China, while uncon
firmed reports have named Iraq as the fifth
PC-9 customer, quoting an order for 15 aircraft.
Type Role
Tu-22 Blinder
Tu-16 Badger/B-6D
MiG-25 Foxbat
MiG-23MF/BN Flogger
MiG-21PF/MFFishbed
MiG-21U Mongol
Xian F-7 (MiG-21)
Shenyang F-6 (MiG-19)
MiG-17F Fresco
Su-7B/20 Fitter
Mirage F.1EQ
Mirage F.1BQ
Hunter FGA.59/FR.59B/T.69
Jet Provost T.52
L-39ZO Albatros
MiG-15UTI Midget
EMB-312 Tucano
PC-7 Turbo-Trainer
AS.202 Bravo
II-76M/MD Candid
An-12 Cub
An-26 Curl
An-24 Coke
11-14 Crate
An-2 Colt
Tu-124 Cookpot
Falcon 20
Learjet 35A
SA.321 Super Frelon
SA.330 Puma
SA.342L Gazelle
Alouette III
Wessex 52
Bell214ST
AB.212AS
AS.61TS
BO.105P/M
Mi-24 Hind
Mi-10 Harke
Mi-8 Hip
Mi-6 Hook
Mi-4 Hound
Mi-1 Hare
* Delivery in progress
7
8/4
10/8
90+
75 +
6
80+
40
30
30/80
100*
11
30+
15
24
20+
84"
40
40
12/7
6
2
10
13
10
2
2
6
10
20/2
40
35+
6
17 +
8
6
75"
20+
3
100+
15
20+
4
Bomber
Bomber
Int/Recce
Int/Attack
Int
Training
Int
FGA
FGA
FGA
Att/AD/Recce
Training
FGA/Rec/Train
Coin
Attack/Train
Training
Training/Coin
Training
Training
Transport
Tanker/Trans
Transport
Transport
Transport
Transport
VIP
VIP
VIP/Survey/TT
Anti-shipping
Transport/VIP
Anti-tank/Liai
Anti-tank/Liai
Transport
Transport
ASW/SAR
VIP/Utility
Anti-tank/Liai
Attack
Heavy Lift
Transport
Transport
Liaison
Liaison
Ireland
Irish Air Corps The IAC has its headquarters
at Parkgate, Dublin, and operates from two
main bases at Casement (Baldonnel) and
Gormanston, in support of Army ground forces
as well as in the fishery protection, SAR, and
transport roles.
No. 1 Support Wing has a Light Strike
Squadron equipped with Magisters, a Maritime
Squadron with Super King Airs and a Trans
port and Training Squadron which uses an HS
125 and a Super King Air. No. 3 Support Wing
(Rotary) comprises an Army Support Squadron
with Alouette Ills, a Naval Support Squadron
and an SAR Squadron, both with SA.365F
Dauphins (Fitted with Bendix RDR-1500
radars), and a Helicopter School Squadron
which uses. SA.342L Gazelles. There is also a
Training Wing of SF.260W Warriors, and an
Army Co-operation Squadron flying Reims-
Cessna FR172s. The latter may be armed for
FAC duties.
Type No Role
CM. 170 Magister
SF.260WE Warrior
Cessna FR172H/P
Super King Air 200
HS 125-700B
SA.365F Dauphin
Alouette III
SA.342L Gazelle
6
9
7/1
2/1
1
3/2
7
2
Coin/Training
Training/Coin
FAC/Liaison
MR/VIP
VIP
SAR/MR
Utility
Training
Israel
Heyl Ha'Avir Mounting US pressure and
increasing domestic concern over the rising cost
of the Lavi fighter project finally led to its
cancellation in August. Two prototypes had
flown and at least 212 production aircraft were
planned. A substantial additional buy of F-16s,
perhaps of a modified version, is now consid
ered a likely alternative. Deliveries of 75
F-16C/Ds to join the survivors of 75 F-16A/B
already supplied finally began in 1986, and are
due to be completed in 1988. Also planned is an
update of the F-4 Phantom force including an
avionics refit and new radar by Elbit. Re-
engining of the F-4s with PW1120 powerplants
is not now being considered, although the
aircraft's avionics will be updated.
Type No
F-15A/B/C Eagle
F-16A/B
F-16C/D
Kfir-C2/TC2/C7/TC7
F-4E/RF-4E Phantom
A-4H/N Skyhawk
CM. 170 Magister (Amit)
PA-18 Super Cub
E-2C Hawkeye
Boeing 707-320
IAI-201 Arava
KC-130H Hercules
C-130E/H Hercules
C-47 Dakota
RU-21A/RC-12D King Air
BN-2A Islander
Queenair 80
Do-27/Do-28B
Westwind 1123/1123N
Cessna U206C
Cessna 172
AH- 1G/Q/S Cobra
Hughes 500MD/TOW
CH-53D/S-65C
SA.321 Super Frelon
Bell 212
Bell 205
Bell 206 JetRanger
HH-65A Dauphin
SA.342L Gazelle
* Delivery in progress
37/2/11 Int/Training
64/8
51724
200+
Int/FGA/Train
•Int/FG A/Train
Int/FGA/Train
114/15FGA/Recce
40+/70+ Attack
80
20
4
11/1/
4
2
12/9
18
3/6
4
16
6/14
3/1
25 +
2
Training
Training
AEW
Tanker/Elint/VIP
Elint/Trans
Tanker
Transport
Transport
Elint
Utility
Liaison/Train
Liaison
VIP/MR
Liaison
Liaison
12/18/15 Anti-tank
36
30/2
8
25
32
38
2
1
.
Anti-tank
Transport
Transport
Transport/SAR
Transport
Liaison
SAR
Liaison
Israel currently has 19 combat squadrons
deployed at ten key air bases. The combat
squadrons deploy more than 600 front-line jet
aircraft. In the interceptor role are two F-15
Eagle units, three of F-16s, and three with
Kfirs. The attack squadrons comprise five
Phantom units, three with A-4 Skyhawks, and
one using Kfirs. By 1990 it is planned to deploy
24 combat squadrons at the ten bases. Kfir
production, which had been at the rate of 18
aircraft a year, ended at around 220 aircraft in
1986, although a retrofit programme continues,
converting Kfir-C2s into -C7s. 12 Kfirs have
been leased to the US Navy, and 13 to the
USMC for agressor training in the USA. Israeli
Aircraft Industries has converted some 11
Boeing 707s to the tanker role, using single-
point centreline refuelling booms salvaged from
retired KC-97s. Two HH-65A Dauphins were
received via the USA in 1985, against an even
tual requirement for 20, while up to 40 AH-1
Cobras may be fitted with advanced night-
targeting systems.
Italy
Aeronautica Militare Italiana The Italian
Air Force forms part of Nato's 5th Allied Tacti
cal Air Force, and currently has more than 900
aircraft. Deliveries of the Tornado were
completed at the end of 1986, and the aircraft
will be equipped with reconnaissance pods and
Kormoran ASMs for their secondary roles. The
F-104S Starfighter remains in service, and is
being further upgraded under the F-104ASA
programme to maintain effectiveness until at
least 1995. The AMI's reconnaissance dedi
cated RF-104Gs will remain until the end of the
decade. The multirole AMX will begin to
replace the RF-104Gs and G-91s in 1988. The
AMI will buy 187, including between 30 and 44
two-seat aircraft. The service is still looking at
various options to provide a small tanker force
which would operate in support of the
Tornadoes. Conversion of G-222s or C-130s is
under study, as is the purchase of secondhand
Boeing 707s. Some Tornadoes will be equipped
as buddy tankers in any case. The MB.339 has
replaced the MB.326 in the pilot training role,
and the older aircraft are being passed on to
bases for refresher training and liaison. An
organic part of the AMI is the Atlantic ASW
The Italian Air Force has a tanker requirement, but until it materialises must use buddy packs
FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 28 November 1987 fin